That original report contained statements attributed to Mr. Panundiana Khun, the Chairman of Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO), stating that due to the diversion of land use away from agricultural pursuits, Bali no longer represented a suitable location for agricultural activities.

The original article continued, saying that Mr. Kuhn felt the government should migrate Balinese farmers to Kalimantan where arable land was both abundant and cheap.

Balidiscovery.com stands by the essence of its rendering of the original Indonesian article into English.

Panundiana Khun Responds

Panundiana Khun has written to Balidiscovery.com wishing to correct any misunderstanding resulting from the original Beritabali.com article published under the title "The Agricultural Industry is No Longer Appropriate for Bali" and the subsequent report on this website.

Kuhn has written his clarification in the form a response to the question: Why are there no investors in Bali in the fields of agro-industry, farming, plantations and livestock?

A free translation of Kuhn's response to his self-posed question follows:

"We reply that it is because the price of land is too expensive. Almost all investors who come to Bali are interested in investing in the tourism sector, such as hotels, restaurants, travel agents. spas, villas, condotels, tourism inns, restaurants (sic) shops, malls, gift shops, entertainment, karaoke and alike which share the character of being capital intensive. Large agro-industry investors will invest in Kalimantan, Papua, and Sumatra . Maybe in such areas investors can establish sugar cane or palm oil plantations, wet field rice planting and alike. These are the areas appropriate for large (agricultural) investors."

"It is totally incorrect to say that I said the Balinese must transmigrate to Kalimantan. Balinese farmers who still want to farm should plant, raise livestock and cultivate."

"Transmigration is actually a volunteer programs and is not compulsory. For people working from the land with no land but who still wish to plant, raise livestock and cultivate, there (transmigration areas) they will obtain land that is larger and more expansive. There (also) they will progress and achieve better personal welfare. This program (transmigration) is a government program to improve the welfare of poor people."

"In the published news it was as if the Balinese should transmigrate to Kalimantan. This is not correct. In that news was also stated 'Bali is not appropriate for agriculture.' This also is not correct. The (published) news "Agriculture is to act as the complement of tourism" is also not correct. In fact, tourism and agriculture share a complementary synergy and a complementary mutual need for each other."

Balidiscovery.com thanks Mr. Panudiana Kuhn for taking the time to clarify this comments.